Christian Bale Backs Out Of Starring Role in Enzo Ferrari Biopic

Last summer, we reported that Christian Bale would star in a biopic about Enzo Ferrari, but now Deadline reports that Bale has left the film. Bale, who is known for losing and gaining significant weight for his roles, reportedly backed out of the film because he didn't feel he could gain enough weight healthily before shooting began this summer.

The movie, simply titled Enzo Ferrari, will be directed by Michael Mann and is based on Brock Yate's 1991 biography of Ferrari. The movie is said to focus on one year of Ferrari's life, 1957, where a Ferrari racer crashed in the Millie Miglia, killing the driver, co-driver and spectators. Enzo Ferrari was indicted for manslaughter over the crash though he was later acquited.

Enzo Ferrari with a Ferrari 330 GT 2+2

GettyMondadori Portfolio

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Deadline says that Mann is talking with "heavyweight" actors, though it's unclear if "heavyweight" is used literally, figuratively or both.

Interestingly, Robert De Niro will also play Enzo Ferrari in a different biopic also set for a 2016 release. That film, which will be titled Ferrari, will span Enzo Ferrari's entire career.